Display-rack



B. E. WILLETT. DISPLAY RACK.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I5, I9I9.

1,345,525. Patemtefl July 6, 192,,

5 SHEETS-SHEET l- Fig. 2

IN VEN TOR.

WIZVSES- @M 8. Mm BY MM ATTORNEY;

B. E. WILLETT.

I DISPLA Y RACK.

APPLICATION FILED JULY [5, I919- Patente July 6, 1920 5 SHEETSFSHEET 2.

Fig. 7

IN VEN TOR. 68W

BY M 0/ ATTORNEY 0.

B. E. WILLETT.

DISPLAY RACK.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15. 1919.

Patented July 5, 1920..

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

llml'l IN VEN TOR. WITNESSES:

V; ATTORNEY.

B. E, WILLETT DISPLAY RACK.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I5, 1-919.

- Patented July 19%.,

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

v INVENTOR. QRMM 8 W, BY M 4 4 a; ATTORNEYS,

WITNESSES:

JJ 6 K I B. E. WILLETT. I

DISPLAY RACK APPLICATION FI LED .IULY I5, I919.

"1,345,525. Patented July" 6, 192500 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Fig. 25

moawlkw .inaaaae.

seamen; n. winner's, or heart Dawes, onIo.

DISPLAY-RACK.

Tovtllvchomit may concern: Be it known that l Bnrncnio'r l l t n'imrrira citizen of the United States,residingnear the city oi Dayton, 1n thecounty oil: Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Displayltacks, 01' which the following is aspecification.

'llhisinvention relates to new and usei'nl improvements in displayracks.

'llherprincugial ob ect oi the invention s to provide a simple, durableand efficient racir it and other articles in positions where they arefor holding anddisplaying vegetables, fruit readily accessible to theclerk or custimier. 'lhe invention rmntemplates the provision of acombined basket, tray and banana holding raeli; in which the trays maybe made tiltable and from which the banana supporting devices may bereadily removed.

The compactness of the device conserves space in, a store the. basketholders be ng ninlerthe trays and the banana supporting arms above thelatter.

It has been another object of the invention to add strength tosimphcityoil: construction, with theQresult that articles of.

great Weight may be supported by the device without subjecting its partsto undue strains. Other important and 1nc1dental ob ects will be broughtout in the rollowing specrlr- 'cation and particularly set forth in thesub joined claims.

T preferred formotenihodnnent oi? my invention is illustrated in ti 3accompanying drawings, of whichl igure 1 a side elevational view of myimproved display 'aclt. Fig. 2 is an end elevationoii the same. l ig. isa side elevational view of an end portion of one oi the trays. l ig. ais a section take/1'1 on the lined-11 of Fig. 3, showing how the bottomand side portion of a tray are connected. Fig. 5 is a top plan view,partly insection, oi? a tray partition and. supportingnieans. Fig. 6 is2. side elevational view oi a portion oi one of the tray partitions.

l? 7 isan end viewthereoi Fig.1. 8 a plan view oi two oi. the basketholders. Fig.

9 a section taken on the line 7)-?) of Fl supported by the base members.F 12 is a side elevational view of the tray bracing Specification ofLetters Patent.

a ncation filed m 15, 1919. Serial No. 310,990.

Patented July 6, 1920.,

means. Fig. 13 is a vertical section taken on the line (Z-(Z of Fig. 12.Fig. Lt is a top plan view of the tray bracing means. Fig. 15 is a sideelevational view of one of the removable banana supporting devices. Fig.16 is a top plan view of one oi. the supports for the arms on which thebanana bunches are hooked. Fig. 17 is a side elevational view of theclampingmcans which receive the vertical bars o'lfthe banana supportingdevices. Fig. 18 is a top plan view of said clan'iping means. l ig. 19is a bottom plan View oi? the tilting tray support. Fig. 20

isa side elevational View 01'' the latter. Fig.

21 is a top plan view of a portion of. one otthe tilting trays. Fig. 22is a longitudinal section taken through the latter. F 1g. 23 1s a topplan view of the lower tray support. lug. 2-1 is a bottom plan view oithe middle tray support. .lligrfQ-i is a top plan 1 view oi the banana,holding 1'' nine. i in. 26 1s a section taken on the line c- -c And ofFig; 3.

Throiighout the specification and draw ings, similar referencecharacters denote corresponding parts.

Referring to the accompanying drawings the display rack is supported bya spider which consists of two runners 1, 1, connected by cross members2, 2, that cross each other inscissor fashion. Each runner 1 is made upof two angle irons connected at their ends by a bracket member 3 whichreceives a roller 4. Each pair 0'! angle irons is arranged to presenttwo oppositely disposed upturned flanges :lor the purpose of tightlyreceiving between them a pair of ertical-ba1's 5 which are boltedbetween said flanges, one near one end, and the other near the. otherend ot' its respective runner.

Straddling the upturned flanges of each pair of angle irons, at themiddle portion 01 the runners which the latter form, are the lower endsof a pair of vertically disposed channel members 6, 6, that are firmlybolted to said flanges. Between each pair of channel members 6, 6, therepasses the top portion of an arch shaped bracing member 7 whose lowerends are firmly bolted between the upturned flanges of the angle ironsof its respective runner 1. (See Figs. 2

i and 1.0.)

Projecting through a preferably square hole in each pair of channelmembers 6, 6, below the middle top portions of the archbar 17 is securedto the horizontal member superstructure now to be described.

The channel members 6, 6, project upwardly .a sufficient distance tosupport the number of trays desired. The central support for the firstor lower tray is a horizontal member 9 and auxiliary horizontal mem-'bers 9" and 9", one on each side of the member 9. .vided the followingdescribedholders for Below thefirst tray are probaskets containingarticles such as potatoes, corn, etc.

Bolted to the left end'of the horizontal bracing member 8 is a pair ofbasket holdingelements or bands 10,.the inner endsof the latterterminating near the channel members 6, (3. They then project outwardly,one on each side of the horizontal member 8, to a: securing bolt 11provided in the end of the latter, from which they are bowed to bolts 12that securethem to the vertical bars 5, from which they extend inwardlyto the archrshaped members 7 to which they are connected by bolts 13. Ina like manner a pair of similar basket holding bands 14 are connected tothe horizontal bracing bar 8,vertical bars and arch shaped members onthe right side of the left hand pair of channel members 6,6. (See Figs.1 and 8.) On each side of the right hand pair of channel members 6, 6,there is secured to the bracing member 8, vertical bars '5 andarch-shaped members 7, in the manner above described, a pair of basket;holding bands, the pair on the left of the channel members 6, 6, beingdesignated by the numeral 15 and the one on the'right of said channelmembers by the numeral 16. The bands 15 and 16 are similarrto thebandsand 14: above describedj The strength of the supporting structure forthe-basket holding bands 10, 14., and 16 'is enhanced by the provisionof two vertical suspension bars 17 that are secured to thebolts ;11at-the ends, of the bracing bar '8, the lower ends of said bars curvingoutwardly and downwardly to straddle the basket holding bands, andportion of the member 8 between them, as shown in Fig. 9. The upper endof one vertical suspension 9, while theupper end of the other verticalsuspension bar 17 is secured to the hori- 'zontal member 9'. A palr ofinterior verticallydisposed bracingelements 18 that cross inner channelmembers 6, 6, (see Fig. 1). Heavilyladen basketsmay be placed upon thebands just described, with the result for holding and displaying smallarticles such as lemons, apples, etc., will now be described. Thelowermost tray, or the one directly above the basket holders, has apreferably rectangular bottom 19 which is supported by the horizontalmembers 9, 9 and 9" and cross supports 20 and 21. Each cross supportcomprises a pair of horizontal bars whose middle portions pass betweentheir respective channel members 6, 6, to which they are firmly securedby bolts 22. The outer ends of the cross supporting bars 20 are boltedto the left hand vertical members 5, 5, while the outer ends of thecross supporting bars 21 are bolted to the right hand vertical members5, 0. (See Fig. 23.)

The horizontal member 9 terminates at each end in a right-angled portionwhich is firmly connected to a respective inner channel member 6 by oneof the bolts 22. Likewise, the horizontal member 9 has a right angledportion at each end, the inner end portion being secured to itsrespective channel member 6 by one of the bolts 22, while its outerright angled end has bolted thereto the downwardly projecting flangeportion 23 on one end of the tray bottom 19. Provided on the oppositeend of the tray bottom 19 is a similar flange 23 to which is bolted theright angled outer end portion of the horizontal bar 9, the innerright-angled end portion of the latter being connected to its respectivechannel member by one of the bolts 22 as shown in Fig. 23.

The bracing elements 18, 18, also have right-angled foot portions, theupper foot portions of which are connected to the channel members 6, 6,by the bolts 22, while their lower ends are connected to said channelmembers by bolts 24. (See Figs. 1 and 23.)

It will also be observed that the cross supporting bars 20 and 21terminate at their outer ends in right angled portions to which thedownwardly projecting flange portions 23 of the sides of the tray bottom19 are bolted. (See Fig. 23.)

Referring to Figs. 3, 4 and 26, the side and end flanges 23 of thebottom 19 of the lowermost tray project downwardly into a groove orpocket formed by fiat side and end marginal pieces 25. These pieces havea horizontal portion 26 upon which a portion of the tray bottom 19rests, and a portion hook-shaped in cross section to provide the grooveor recess that receives not only the flange portion 23 of the bottom 19of the tray, but also the bottom edges of the side members 27 and endmembers 28 of the latter.

The side members 27 and end members 28 of the tray, are firmly securedtogether at intranet their ends by corner pieces 29 having two bentdownwardlyon the inside of said side and end members after passingthrough the slots, to provlde a firm connection between them without theuse of screws or rivets. The lower ends of the corner 1318688 29 arebentto hook over the lower hook-shaped ends of the marginal pieces 26,as shown in liig. d. The means ust described firmly and niatly connectthe sides, endsandbottom of the tray firmly together without the use ofnumerous screws and rivets that are difiicult to apply and remove.

The side members 21' and end members 28 of the tray contain inytheirexposed portions, perforations 32 which are preferably elliptical inform to provide neat-appearing partitions 33 that project betweenthechannel members 6, 6, from one side member 27 of the tray to the otherside member 27 thereof. On the outside faces of the side members 27,oppositethe ends of the partitions 33,there are secured flat pieces 84:by rivets 35 which pass through said side memr hers into short channelpieces 36 which re eeive on one flanged side the right-angled tongueportion 37 of the partition end, and

on the other flanged side the two rightangled earportions 38, 38, thatproject in the opposite dlrectlon from said partition 1 end.

These tongue and ear projections on the partition ends, slide easilyinto the chan nel pieces 36 to facilitate the initial assembly of thetray as well as tolmake the removal 1 and insertion of a partitiomaneasy operatien. (See Figs. 5, 6and 7.)

Surrounding the channel members 6, 6, one oneach side of a partition 33that passes between them, is a short channel member 39 towhose backportion is riveted a flanged piece 40 similar to the channel piece 36/These flanged pieces 40 receive the tongue portions 411 and 4L2oflongitudinal partitions 43 that are shorter than, thoughsimilar inconstruction to, the cross partitions 33. The partitions 413 aredisposed in an approximately a straight line through the middle portionof the tray, and

divide, together with the cross partitions 33, the tray into the numberof compart ments desired. Since no bolts or rivets are employed insecuring these partitions in Above the lower tray is mounted a section.

provided.

0nd tray 45, which is preferably smaller than the first and supported asfollows;

respective pair of cross supporting bars 17 that pass between, and aresupported by, said channel members 6, 6. Bolted be tween the middlechannel members 6, 6,

is a horizontal bracing member 4:7 similar to the horizontal member 9.The cross supporting bars 47, braced by the invertedarch shaped members4-6, form a strong support for the second tray 45 which is smaller than,though similar to the tray below it. (See Figs. 1,2 and 24).

The numeral 418 designates a top shelf that is made tiltableas follows.Referrin to Figs; 2, 19 and 20, there is bolted be= tween each pair ofchannel members 6, 6, the lower middle portion of an invertedarch shapedbracing member l9 whose up perends are bolted between a respective pairof cross members 50, so, that are bent outwardly at their middleportions to straddle the channel members 6, 6, instead of passingbetween them, for a purpose to be hereinafter described. The ends of thebracing members 49, 49, on one slde of the channel members 6, 6, pro ectupwardly a sufficient distance to permit the ends of a pair of crossmembers 51, 51, to be hingedly secured thereto by a bolt To the crossmembers 51, 51, on each side of the rack, thetop shelf 18 is secured.The latter is constructed of two pieces of sheet metal formed and"riveted together as shown in Figs. 21 and 22, to provide beveledmarginal edges that surround a flat top survertically movable betweenthe front ends of its respective pair of cross members 50, Projectingbetween the ends of the cross members 50, 50, of each pair, is a boltwhose 1 shank the notches in the curved piece 52 are adapted to engageto hold the shelf 48 in a desired tilted posi- By means of the structurejust described, it is easily possible to tilt the shelf 48 to a desiredangular position.

For the purpose of supporting bananas above the shelf 18, the followingmeans are Referring to Fig. 18 it will be seen that the upper ends ofthe channel members 6, 6, may be drawn toward each otherby bolts 54, 54that pass through the enlarged portions of the cross members 50, 50.Adapted to be passed through a slot in the shelf 418, downwardly betweenthe channel members 6, 6, of each pair of the j latter, is a bar 55which is adapted to be .iirmly gripped and held by said members whennuts 56 on the ends of the bolts e l, 5%,are tightened. IVhen thetilting shelf {i8 is used, the cross members 5.1, 51, are widened attheir middle portions to permit the bar 55 topass downwardly betweenthem. 7 (See Fig. 19).

The upper end of the bar55 is adapted to project into the tubular lowerend of a casting 5'Tthat preferably has'four outwardly projecting wingportions58 on the top of cachet which is a boss 59 containing a hole 60.Two of these wing portions 58 raise their bosses to a level above theother two, to permit the two pairs of supporting arms to cross eachother. The shorter pair of these arms, which cross. the lower pair, isdesignated by the numeral 61, while the lower pair thatextendsvlengthwise of the rack, is designated by the numeral 62.Referring to Figs. 15 and 25, the cross arms 61straddle and-are firmlybolted to the two oppo-.

sitely disposed upper bosses 59 on the wing portions58of the casting 57while the 1011- gitudinal'arms 62 straddle and are firmly bolted to thetwo oppositely disposed lower bosses 59 on the wing portions of saidcastmg. r

Y Secured between the outer ends of each pair of supporting arms 61 and62, is the upper end of a hook 53 that is firmly clamped 1 between said.arms by a screw bolt 64 that passes through the outer ends of said armsand receives on'its outer end a nut 65. Each hook 63 has an enlargedhead portion 66 that rests upon the top edges of its respectivesupporting arms, while on its lower end a bunch of bananas is adapted tobe suspended. If it is not desired to use the banana supportingconstruction just described, it may be readily removed from the rack bylifting the castings 57 from the bars 55am removing the latter from thesockets which the channel members 6, 6,

form for them.

7 Having described my invention, I'claim: 1. In a display rack, a. pairof horizontal base members, a pair of vertically disposed channel.members secured to the middle portion of'each base member, a'horizontalbracing bar projecting through said channel members at right angles tosaid horizontal base members, an arch-shaped member secured to'each basemember, and whose upper portion projects .between the channel memberssecured to the-latter, above the horizontal bracing bar, and bowedbasket holding bands secured between the archshaped members and thehorizontal bracing bar. 1

2. In a display rack, a pair of horizontal base members, a pair ofvertically-disposed 7 channel members secured to the middle portionofeachbase member, a horizontal bracing bar projecting through saidchannel members at right angles to said horizontal base members, anarch-shaped member secured to each base member, and whose upper portionprojects between the channel members secured to the latter, above thehorizontal bracing bar, two vertical bars secured to each base member,one on each side of its respective pair of channel memhers, 'and bowedbasket holding hands secured between the horizontal bracing bar, thevertical bars and arch-shaped members.

3. In a display rack, a pair of horizontal base members, each basemember consisting of two angle-irons so connected as to have twocorresponding sides thereof face each other in a vertical position, aroller at each end of said base members, a pair of channel members whoselower ends straddle, and are secured to, the middle portions of theupwardly projecting sides of each pair of angle irons, an arch-shapedmember whose lower ends are firmly secured between the upturned sides ofeach pair oi angle irons, the top portion of said arch-shaped memberpassing between the channel members, a pair of vertical bars whose lowerends are firmly secured between the upturned sides of each iair of ngleirons, one bar on each side oi said channel members, a horizontalbracing 9 an zilQll-SllflPGd bracing member secured to each horizontalbase member and whose top portion is connected to the standard on thelatter, a vertical bar secured near each end of each base member, and aseries oi basket holding bands, each of which is connected at one end tothe horizontal bracing bar near the said standard, and then again tosaid bracing bar at a short distance beyond its first point ofconnection thereto, after which it is bowed outwardly and then inwardlyto a vertical bar, to which it is connected, and thence projectinginwardly to the archshaped member to whose upper portion it is secured.

5. In a display rack, a pair oi horizontal base members, a standardsecured to the .Wardly therefrom in approximately the lit] li tene sameline. as the first horizontal member, an

archrshaped bracing member secured to each .horizontal lr-asememberandwhose top portion connected tothestandard on said latter, twoverticalbars secured to each base member, one on each side. of ltsrespectlve pair of channel members, a horizontal member projectinglongitudinally between the upper portions of the two pairs oii channelmen'ibers, an auxiliary horizontal member projecting outwardly from eachp airoi channel members, in ap 'arozrimatelythe same line as the firstnamed horizontal member, cross supports whose middleaportionsi areconnected betweenthe channel members of each pair of the latter, thecross supports being secured to the upper ends of the vertical bars, anda tray supported by the longitudinal members and cross supports.

7. in a display rack, a pair of horizontal base members, a pairof.verticallydisposed channel members secured to the middle por tion ofeach base member, an arch-shaped bracing member secured to each basemember, and whose upper portion projects between the channel memberssecured to the latter, a horizontal b 'acing bar projecting through saidchannel members at right angles to the base members, two vertical barssecured to eachrbase member, one on each side of its respective pair ofchannel members, a horizontal member projecting longitudinally betweenthe upper portions of the two pairs of channel members, an auxiliaryhorizontal member projecting outwardly from each pair of channelmembers, in approximately the same line as the first named horizontalmember, cross supports whose middle portions are connected between thechannel members ot each pair of the latter, the cross supports beingconnected to the upper ends of the vertical bars, a suspension barsecured between each outer end of the horizontal bracing bar and eachauxiliary longitudinal horizontal member, verticallydisposed bracingmembers that cross each. other at their middle portions connectedbetween the channel members in the space between the horizontal bracingmember and the middle longitudinal member above it, and a tray supportedby a. pair of hm'izontal base members, apair oil vertically-dispiisedthe longitudinal horizontal members and cross supports. i

8. In a display rack, a pair of horizontal base members, a standardsecured to the middle portion oi each base member, a horirental memberprojecting longitudinally from the upper portion 01!? each standard, apair o'fivertical bars secured to each base member one on each side ofthe standard nmunted thereon, cross supports secured be tween saidstandards and the said vertical bars, angular end portions on thehorizontal niel'nbers and cross supports, a receptacle, and a downwardlyprojecting flange on said receptacle, secured to the angular endportions oithe horizontal members and cross supports.

9. In a tray for a display rack, the combination witha bottom for saidtray, of a downwardly projectingflange on said bottom, a marglnal piecehaving a horlzontal portion below aportion of said bottom, said.marginal piece being bent to form a grooved front end to receive theflange on said bottom, and a vertical face member for said traysupported in said groove between said bottom flange and the upturnedfront portion of the marginal piece.

10. In a tray "for a display rack, the combination with a bottom forsaid tray, of a downwardly"projecting flange on said bottom, a marginalpiece having a horizontal portion below a portion of said bottom, saidarginal piece being bent to form a grooved tront end to receive theflange on said bottom, side and end members for said tray supported insaid grooves, and angular corner pieces adapted to fit against themeeting edges of the side and end members, the lower ends of saidcornerpieces being bent to hook under the marginal pieces, while theupper ends of said corner pieces are formed to pass through slots inthe, upper marginal portions of the side and end members, and

adapted to be turned down against the inside faces of the latter.

11. In a tray for a display rack, the combination with side and endmembers, and a bottom for said tray, of oppositely disposed channelpieces secured to the side members of said tray, a series ofcrosspartitions for the latter, a central right-angled tongue on each end ofa or as partition, and two ear portions turned in the opposite directionfrom said tongue portion, one on each side of said tongue portion, oneach end of a partition, said tongue and ear portions on the partitionsadapted to be readily received by the channelpieces on the side members,removably to hold the partitions in the tray.

12. In a display rack, a pair of horizontal base members, a pair ofchannel members secured to the middle portion of each base member, atray through whose bottom said channel members project upwardly,supportmg means on said base members cooperating with the channelmembers for holding said tray, cross partitions in said tray whosemiddle portions pass between the channel members, a channel piece havinga double flange on its back portion to fit a respective channel member,saidrchannel pieces being applied to the channel. members on each sideof the cross partitions that pass between "them, andlongitudinalpartitions having .Vtongue portions that fit in said channelpieces, to divide, with the cross partitions,

'zontal base members, a pair of channel memthe tray into separatecompartments.

13. In a display; rack, a pair of horibers secured to the middle portionof each base member, an inverted-archshaped bracmg member whose lowerportlon is secured s between the top, portions of each pair ofchannelmembers, a pair of cross supporting bars whose middle portionsproject between each pair of channel members, and between which theupper ends of the arch-shaped bracing members are secured, and areceptacle supported by said Crossbars.

14:. In adisplay rack, a pairiof horizontal base members, a pair ofchannel members secured to the middle portion of each base member, apair of cross members secured to the top end of each pair of channelmembers.

the middle portions of said cross members being widened tostraddle-theirrespective channel members, bolts passing through the widened portionsof the cross members, a vertical bar'adaptedto be received between thetop ends of each pair of channel members, a banana supporting framemounted on'each verticalbar, and nuts adapted to be applied tosaid'bolts to draw the top ends of the channelm'embers tightly againstthe vertical bar, firmly to support it in an adjusted position.

15. In a display rack, a pair of horizontal base members, a pair ofchannel members secured to the middle portion of each base member, apair of cross members secured to the top end of each pair of channelmembers, a display device mounted on said cross members, the middleportions of the latter being widened to straddle their respectivechannel members, bolts passing through the widened portions of saidmembers, a vertical bar adapted to be received between the top ends ofeach pair of channel members, after being projected'through a hole 'inthe bottom of said display device, a tubular casting adapted to beslipped on said vertical bar, banana supporting arms secured to saidcasting, and nuts adapted to be applied to said bolts to draw the topends of the channel members tightly against the vertical bars, firmly tosupport them, and through them, the banana holding arms.

16. In a display rack, a pair of horizontal base members, a pair ofchannel members secured to the middle portion of each base member, avertical bar removably supported between the upper ends of each pair ofchain nel members, a tubular casting having pairs of outwardlyprojecting wings, adapted to be placed on the upper end of said bar, aboss on the top of each wing, one pair of bosses being on a higher levelthan the other pair, a pair of cross arms secured to the lower pair ofbosses, a second pair of cross arms at right angles to the first pair.secured to the upper pair of bosses, and a banana-bunch supporting hooksecured between the outer ends of each pair of cross bars.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 12th day of July,1919.

BENEDICT E. VVILLETT.

Witness;

HOWARD S. SMITH.

